Holding device for films, plates, or the like when x-raying teeth



p 1950 CARL-GUSTAF F. STERN HOLDING DEVICE FOR FILMS, PLATES OR THE LIKE WHEN X-RAYING TEETH Filed Nov.

F/EJ

Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE HOLDING DEVICE FOR FILMS, PLATES, OR THE LIKE WHEN X-RAYING TEETH Carl-Gustaf Ferdinand Stern, Malmo, Sweden 4 Claims. (Cl. 250-70) When X-raying dentists have hitherto been obliged to let the patient hold the film, plate or the like in the mouth by means of the fingers, which is not always convenient, especially for the dentist, it being sometimes rather difiicult for the latter to get the patient to hold the film in correct positional relationship to those teeth to be X-rayed, furthermore it is often tedious Work to adjust the X-ray tube in position so that the rays will travel along a path in correct angular relationship to the film. It is of paramount importance that the rays be given the correct position, otherwise the result will be an imperfect reproduction. In order to obtain a clear and correct photograph the direction of the X-rays must be perpendicular to the bisector between the film and the longitudinal axis or the teeth. Even very small deviations will cause a distortion of the picture and might easily lead to a misinterpretation of same. Moreover, it is difficult for the patient to hold the film so still during the exposure that the photo will not be blurred.

It has been proposed to insert the margin of an X-ray film or plate packet in a slot in a block which is introduced into the patients mouth and held in position by his upper and lower teeth but the above stated disadvantages are not overcome by this device.

Further it has been proposed to use a device consisting of a handle and an adjustable holding means for the X-ray film or plate packet but the known construction is complicated and impractical so that it has not come into common use.

Owing to the above mentioned disadvantages a thorough full mouth X-ray examination is such tedious work that it is relatively seldom done by dentists, in spite of the diagnostic aid attainable thereby.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved X-ray film or plate holder surmounting the objections and difiiculties stated above and adapted to hold the film or plate packet in the patients mouth in a position which is indicated by a part of the holder projecting from the patients mouth.

A further object of the invention is to provide an X-ray film or plate holder which is of simple and inexpensive construction.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the attached drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device according to th invention,

Fig. 2 shows the device as seen from the side of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 shows the device as seen from above in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, especially Figs. 1-4, the holder consists of a rodlike handle 5 which in the illustrated embodiment has the form of a flattened ellipse in cross section.

Each end of the handle is provided with a wider, fiat portion or blade 6 and 1', respectively, the thickness of which is the same as that of the smallest cross section of the handle. The blades 6 and l are positioned in the same plane. Blade 63 is provided on one side with a groove 8 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. On the other side of the blade 6 is a channel or slit 9 extending perpendicular to groove 3 cut in a shoulder formed by about a 50 per cent reduction in thickness of the blade throughout the major portion of the length of the blade as measured from the end thereof.

At the other end of the handle the material has been removed from both sides of the end and greater portion of the blade i leaving but a thin blade Ill and two shoulders lying in the same plane and facing the end of the blade l0; these shoulders extend along a plane forming an angle of 30 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the handle. In the shoulders are slits II and I2 bordered on one side by the respective surface of the blade Hi.

The above-mentioned slits H and I2 and grooves l and 8 are dimensioned in such a manner that Roentgen films, plates or the like may be inserted therein and retained in position when held in the patients mouth during an X-ray exposure. Groove 8 is used when X-raying right and left molars of the lower jaw, whilst slit II is used for the right molars, and slit l2 for the left molars, of the upper jaw. When X-raying the bi-cuspids, groove 9 may be employed although it is by rights intended for use when X-raying the cuspids and incisors of both jaws.

Thanks to the fact that the patient may bite the handle 5, it is very easy for him to hold the plate or the like still during exposure.

Owing to the above-mentioned form of the handle the dentist may easily judge the position of the plate or film in the patients mouth although it is almost closed, and he can therefore adjust the X-ray tube without having to bend down to look into the patients mouth.

The use of the holder according to the invention facilitates the X-raying of. teeth so much 3 that a dentist is able to take a full mouth X-ray, i. e. 14 teeth, in about 3-5 minutes as compared with a time of -30 minutes hitherto necessary.

The invention is naturally not limited to the embodiment described herein and illustrated in the attached drawing, many variations being possible within the scope of the invention. The handle may be of any cross section whatsoever, but preferably not round, at least not along the whole of its length. If this, however, is the case, the handle should be provided with. some sort of mark whereby it is possible tojudge the position of the film or the plate in the patients mouth.

What I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A composite X-ray dental film or plate holder for oral use for all teeth in the mouth of 'a user comprising a rodlike handle, a fiat blade portion at each end of saidhandle, one ofsaid blades having in one surface thereof a groove extending parallel to. the longitudinal axis of said'handle and on the reverse surface thereof a shoulder extending perpendicular to said groove, said shoulder having a groove therein opening towards the free, end of said blade and extending parallel'to said blade, the other of said blades having a shoulder on'each surface thereof facing the free end of said blade and being inclined in. relation to the longitudinal axis of said handle, each of said inclined-shoulders having a' groove therein at the same angle as said shoulder and extending parallel to the associated blade, all'of said grooves being formed to engage the margin of an X-ray film or plate packet, while said blades are adapted to support an X-ray film or plate packet engaged in the associated one of said grooves in said shoulders, the blade portion extending externally of the mouth of a userproviding a positioning indicator for the X-ray film in the opposite end of said holder.

2. A- composite X-ray dental film or plate holder as claimed in claim 1, said blades being positioned in the same plane.

3. A- composite X-ray dental film or plate holder for oral use for all teeth in the mouth of a user comprising a rodlike handle shaped as a fiattened ellipse in cross-section, a fiat blade portion ateach end-of said handle, one of saidblades having in onesurface thereof a groove extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said handle and on the reversesurface thereof a shoulder extending perpendicularto said groove, saidshoulder having a groove thereinopening towards the end of said blade and extending parallel to-said blade, the other of said blades having a shoulder on each surface thereof facing the free end of said blade and being inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of said handle, each of said inclined Shoulders having a groove therein at the same angle as said shoulder and extending parallel to the associated blade, all of said grooves being formed to engage the margin of an X-ray film or plate packet, While said bladesare adapted to support an X-ray film or plate packet engaged in the associated one of said grooves in said shoulders, the blade portion extending externally of the mouth of' a user providing a positioning indicator for the X-ray film in the opposite end of said holder.

4. A composite X-ray dental film or plate holder for oral use for all teeth in the mouth of a user comprising a rodlike handle of flattened elliptical cross-section, a flat blade portion at each end of said handle, one of said blades having a groove in onefiat surface thereof, said groove extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said handle, a shoulder on theopposite, fiat surface of said blade inwardly spaced from the free end thereof, said shoulder extending perpendicular to said groove in-the other saidblade, said shoulder having a groove therein opening towards the free end of said blade and extending parallel tosaid blade, the other of said blades having a shoulder on each fiat surface thereof facing and inwardly spaced fromthe free end of said blade, said shoulders being inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of said handle, each Of said inclined shoulders having a groove therein at the same angle assaid shoulder and extending parallel to the associated blade, all of said grooves being formed to engage the margin of an X-ray film or plate packet, while said blades are adapted to support an X-ray film or plate packet engaged in the associated one of said grooves in said shoulders, the blade portion extending externally of the mouth of auser providing a positioning indicator, for the'X-ray film in the opposite end ofsaid holder.

CARL-GUSTAF FERDINAND STERN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,286,251 Dorr Dec; 3, 1918 1,963,702 Jackson June 19, 1934 2,005,993 Heron et.al June 25, 1935 2,392,109 Vlock Jan. 1, 1946 

